Viacom Sues Google over YouTube Clips

Fresh from a deal with Joost to provide it exclusive rights to stream its content over the Joost network, Viacom has filed suit in federal court against Google, claiming copyright infringement to the tune of $1 billion in damages....

Fresh from a deal with Joost to provide it exclusive rights to stream its content over the Joost network, Viacom has filed suit in federal court against Google, claiming copyright infringement to the tune of $1 billion in damages. At issue is YouTube's uploaded content, which Viacom claims hosts thousands of pieces of copyrighted material from Viacom properties like Comedy Central, MTV, and Nickelodeon. Viacom states the copyrighted material has been collectively viewed over 1.5 billion times.

Last month, Viacom ordered YouTube to remove over 100,000 copyrighted videos from its site, and YouTube reported that it was complying with the request. But apparently YouTube was not fast enough for Viacom, which has claimed that YouTube makes "a lucrative business out of exploiting the devotion of fans to others' creative works," citing that its earlier negotiations with Google about YouTube's videos was "unproductive." Whether unproductive means the two companies disagreed or that YouTube wasn't quick enough for Viacom's tastes is another story, but the matter heads to federal court now, and we'll see if it plays out in front of a judge or if Google will pay Viacom to go away.

For its part, Google responded: "We will certainly not let this suit become a distraction to the continuing growth and strong performance of YouTube." At present, YouTube generally does not screen material uploaded to the site for copyrighted content, but does take down content if requested by the copyright holder. Other copyright holders would rather allow Google to rack up the bandwidth charges associated with allowing their content to be available to the world, considering it a form of free advertising, and some media producers, like Cartoon Network's popular "Adult Swim" programming block, even upload their own material directly to YouTube and advise people go there and see it.

Still, the suit stands as a test to YouTube policy of passive enforcement of copyright when it comes to video sharing sites built on user-uploaded and user-generated material. Viacom, on the other hand, is happy to partner with companies like Joost, who promise to share their ad revenue with the companies that provide their content.